Mossberg 500 Failure to Extract?

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joel1316

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My Mossberg 500 has always had a problem with extracting a spent case from the chamber? It seems as if the extractor fails to grab onto the case rim to pull the case out of the chamber. I have to take a small flat head screwdriver to pull out the spent case. The problem is pretty consistant with most brands of ammo. Any help would be appreciated.
 
I've never taken the action apart..... It looks pretty clean still as I haven't put that much ammo through it due to do the extraction problem. It seems like the extractor doesn't have enough force to grab the case. Or not enough of the case rim is exposed for the extractor to grab onto (if that's possible)?
 
The shotgun sat in the safe for the last few years unfired. Only recently has it seen the light of day and found this problem. I'm assuming that Mossberg will just tell me to take it to a gunsmith, which I may have to do...
 
What condition are your shells in, your ammo? I've owned two mossies that did the same thing. However, they don't malfunction with new ammo, just old rusty stuff after I've carried it out in the salt marsh. I just chunk it if it's too bad, but occasionally one with some rust on it sticks in the action and I have to take my multi-tool to it in the field to get the round out. It's irritating. I wish they still made Activ shells, no metal on them to rust. I can't carry rounds afield more'n a couple of trips and let them sit up long or they'll rust. I'm currently experimenting with various lubes and waxes trying to keep the rust down on the ammo. I'd get mad at the gun, but I think the same thing would likely happen in most any repeating shotgun. If the round gets TOO bad, firing it causes it to split, not good.

Plastic shot shells cured the swelling paper problem, but has done nothing for the rusting "brass", which isn't brass at all.
 
Dido on the cleaning - pay particular attention to the chamber itself making sure there are no burs, and clean with some 0000 steel wool rapped onto a brass brush turning in a low speed drill . Your chamber doesn't need to look like a mirror, but it should be smooth and clean.

(if not cured see below)

With that out of the way you should dis-assemble the gun . (field strip) Remove the bolt and inspect the extractors. The left side extractor has a jaw that is a bit rounded to allow the shell's base to release easier during the normal ejection cycle. The right hand extractor (one at the port opening) should be sharp and crisp to hang onto the shells rim. It should have a small tappering on the bottom to allow the shell base to slide upward onto the bolt face during feeding.

If they look OK then slide a empty shell case onto the bolt face - it should slide from the underside upward with a small amount of tension that will hold the case onto the bolt face without letting it fall off. Pull forward on the empty case to see how much it takes to strip it from the bolt face. If it doesn't take much for the case to release then you may need new tension springs on the extractors, or a new right side extractor. (sometimes they can get bent also and can be straightened to increase holding strength)

Most often a good chamber cleaning cures the problem when it is gun related. Sometimes either dirty ammo, or ammo with soft brass that doesn't return to normal dimensions after firing can cause extraction problems as well.
 
Thanks everyone! The ammo I use is pretty much fresh off the store shelf, varying from Remington, Federal, Winchester, etc,... Some do better than others, but at least a few rounds will not extract. Winchester seems to be the worst?
I will definately field strip the rifle and do a thorough cleaning and try buffing out the chamber. Again thanks for helping me out.:)
 
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